The ninth International Small Scale Steamup 2001
WRAP-UP
Dear Live Steamer,

What a week! You all have done it again, and the feeling of camaraderie was palpable. We may have uncaged a dragon by starting on Monday, but it seems that all of the 223 people who showed up during the week had a good time. By popular demand, we'll be doing it again in 2002 ( It appears that I donšt get a vote on this since the whole thing has definitely developed a life unto itself), again starting on Monday. You'll be interested to know that we already have 81 registrants (many who have paid good money for a week of sleep deprivation and general over indulgence in Mississippi) and that the Ramada is pretty much on the way to being full.

The week was relatively problem free, all due to the efforts of our volunteers who were at the front desk for receipt of money, folding and distributing all of the shirts and aprons, issuing all of those white envelopes, answering loads of questions and just being there to welcome you to the Steamup. There was a heavy heart behind those smiles since we lost one of our volunteers just a month ago with the untimely death of Bobbi Dostaler. We really do miss her .

Next year we will again change the name ( the fourth name change in ten years) of what has been referred to as "the happening" - it will henceforth be the "INTERNATIONAL SMALL SCALE STEAMUP AND ARTS FESTIVAL", a name which better represents our great variety of interests. From the Clack Valves and Cornets Steam Band, to the magical moments of our own Peter Papartis and John Bigelow playing accordion/tuba duets at poolside, to the ladies working at the crafts table making those lovely bear costumes, to Dan Rowe performing his juggling feats, to Bruce Davey acting as a steam mixicologist, to the classic film festival, to David Hamilton playing the shuttle pipes, etc., etc., etc. There is even a rumor being circulated that I will attempt to play a baritone horn with the band - this is probably a gross distortion.

I really would like to incorporate these disparate occurrences into the program in order to attempt a schedule of some sort. It would be very helpful if all artists ( I use this in the broadest of terms) could contact me during the year to see what can be worked out.

Next year will find us using the same track configuration , but we will be adding a dual gauge feature to one oval on our new track. John Coughran is looking into this and we'll be up and running early in the week. We'll also be replacing some segments of the big track, using some rail and ties donated by Ted Sharpe. We did pressure wash the main and small tracks, but the new track looks a bit delicate and we'll just wipe it down next year.

Our track crews were superb this year. Ed Dabler ran a tight ship and we were all able to work more or less effectively. Thanks to the guys and gals who donated their muscles to the job. I'd like to give them all a bit of individual recognition, but I'm afraid of missing someone.

Carol Homuth ran the most successful steam flea market ever! He even kept some simple records and he found that about three quarters of the items found new homes, and that about $ 23,000 changed hands. Amazing!

The Steam Seminars were well attended, and we all owe a tip of our hats to Andrew Pullen, Geoff Calver, Carl Malone, Kevin O'Connor, Soni Honneger, and Harry Wade for educating and entertaining us.

The Double Feature night was a nice break for all of those who needed a popcorn and candy fix, and Jerry Hyde and Tom Flair deserve some plaudits ( Tom worked through a case of the crud while still functioning as chief usher.) It was great fun.

Walt Swartz ran a hotly contested weight lifting competition using an improved measuring device and the winners were all awarded their trophies at the closing meeting. Really a bit weird, but the hobby does require that one be a bit off center in order to get maximum enjoyment.

Our own Clack Valves and Cornets Steam Band was superb. Scott McDonald earned our applause for putting this all together and the new band members made great music along with the original bunch. The band has grown to almost marching band size, with the virtuosi Pat Mueller, Charles Kessler, Chris Sortina, and Karl Wallace ( wouldn't a marching band be a hoot?)

The door prize drawing distributed about 200 items and we'll speed this all up next year by drawing names before the luncheon and posting a list of prize winners .

The numbers are always of interest,so here goes a rather simple compilation of information from our program and addendum: